During the last part of the 19th century, a quiet revolution took place in both England and in America which imitated the Art Nouveau ideals to some extent. It became known as the Arts and Crafts Movement. It became the feeling that the industrial revolution was harmful and was shown as such by the poor workmanship and poor working conditions. Quality was once again the purpose. The Arts & Crafts movement aimed to recapture the pure design and craftsmanship lost to mass production. It began it Britain but gained a wider audience in the United States, where exponents combined hand and machine techniques.
Dislike for the Industrial/mass Produced era Return to hand wrought items of quality William Morris and his Morris chair Ancestor to our recliner Roy crofters and various other Artisan Guilds
SOME IMPORTANT DESIGNERS/MANUFACTURERS
Charles Robert Ashbee pioneer of the movement Arthur Liberty/Liberty and Company William Morris Gustav Stickley Various Guilds and Communities including publishing houses Louis H. Kinder (Master Bookbinder)
MOTIFS
Naturalistic; ornament appropriate to the design, Celtic, Japanese, Simplistic Decoration, Garlands, Leaves, Flowers Peacocks, Hand wrought art metalwork in copper, Hand hammering on metal work, Mission style oak furniture
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
British Style based on philosophy of Morris, who was influenced by John Ruskin and A.W.N. Pugin; rejection of Victorian over-decoration and poor design; numerous handcraft guilds formed; philosophical ideas spread throughout Europe and USA
